WASHINGTON - Political action committees (PACs)
contributed $134.3 million to federal candidates between January
1, 1997, and June 30, 1998, according to a compilation released
today by the Federal Election Commission. Of this total, $124.4
million was given to candidates seeking election in 1997-98, with
the remaining $10 million going toward debt retirement and future
elections. This represents a 6% increase in total giving when
compared to the same 18-month period for 1995-96, when PACs
contributed a total of $126.5 million. Contributions to
candidates seeking election in 1997-98 increased 9% over the
$114.4 million given to candidates seeking election in 1995-96.

The FEC study of 4,486 PACs shows a total of
$359.4 million raised and $292.6 million spent in the first 18
months of the 1997-98 election cycle. This represents a 10.6%
increase in receipts and a 15% increase in disbursements when
compared to the same period for the previous cycle. PACs began
the last six months of the election year with cash-on-hand of
$169.9 million.

Incumbents received $113.6 million of the
$134.3 million contributed, while challengers were given $8.0
million and candidates for open seats, $12.6 million. PACs
reported spending an additional $1.1 million in independent
expenditures, $915,039 of that regarding the current election
cycle. The split between parties was almost equal. Republican
candidates received $69.1 million from PACs for the first
18-months of the 1997-98 cycle, while Democrats received $65.0
million for the same period.